Product Offerings
Products:
Processed fish products: dried fish, smoked fish, fish snacks
Mae La Inburi Orrawan Fish Processing Promotion Community Enterprise is a grassroots community-based enterprise located in Thailand, specializing in the production of traditional and value-added fish products. This enterprise exemplifies the Thai government’s initiative to support local food economies through the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) program and community entrepreneurship development. While relatively small in scale, the enterprise plays a significant role in local job creation, food preservation, and rural economic resilience.
Enterprise Overview
The Mae La Inburi Orrawan Fish Processing Promotion Community Enterprise was established to provide income-generating opportunities for local families in the Mae Sot area (Tak Province) through sustainable fish processing. Composed primarily of women and smallholder producers, the group organizes fish preservation and value-added manufacturing to serve local and regional markets.
Operating under cooperative principles, the enterprise also receives support from Thailand’s Community Development Department and provincial agricultural extension offices, which assist with technical training, food safety compliance, and packaging innovation.
Product Offerings
The enterprise produces a range of processed freshwater fish products using traditional and semi-modern methods. Its key offerings include:
- Sun-dried Fish: Naturally dried tilapia and catfish using hygienic solar drying techniques
- Smoked Fish: Charcoal-smoked freshwater fish prepared with native seasonings
- Fish Snacks: Crispy fish skin, fish crackers, and seasoned jerky-style items
- Fermented Fish (Pla Ra): A traditional fermented product sold in local wet markets
These products are typically packed in vacuum-sealed bags for extended shelf life and distributed to regional markets, OTOP fairs, and community cooperatives.
Production Capabilities
- Raw Material Sourcing: Fish sourced from local rivers and smallholder aquaculture farms
- Processing Scale: Small-batch operations producing approximately 500–800 kg of product monthly
- Packaging: Basic but food-safe packaging formats, including vacuum pouches and shrink-wrapped trays
- Facilities: Operates from a government-approved small processing site with access to clean water and solar drying units
Certifications and Quality Standards
- OTOP Accreditation: Certified under Thailand’s One Tambon One Product initiative
- GAP (Good Agricultural Practices): Adopted in aquaculture sourcing processes
- Food Safety Training: Members have completed workshops on hygiene, handling, and food-grade materials through Thailand's Department of Agricultural Extension
Market Channels
- Local Sales: Farmers markets, local cooperatives, school canteens
- Provincial Trade Fairs: Regular participation in OTOP fairs and rural innovation expos
- Online Platforms: Some indirect sales through regional Thai food e-commerce sites (via third-party listings)
While international export is not a current capability, the enterprise is positioning itself for wider regional outreach through packaging improvements and brand recognition efforts.
Social and Economic Impact
- Community Employment: Engages 15–20 households, particularly women and elderly members, in income-generating activities
- Economic Multiplier: Income from fish processing contributes directly to local school fees, healthcare, and savings groups
- Skill Development: Participants trained in HACCP basics, solar drying methods, and microenterprise management
Sustainability Practices
- Solar Drying: Reduced carbon footprint and energy efficiency using sunlight-based dehydration
- Waste Reduction: Fish waste is composted or reused as feed in small animal husbandry
- Local Sourcing: All inputs sourced from nearby aquaculture and river fisheries
Challenges and Future Outlook
- Scaling Limitations: Lack of capital investment and limited access to modern packaging technology
- Branding and Visibility: Minimal online presence and marketing tools
- Opportunity: With modest investment in machinery and branding, the enterprise could expand to serve tourism markets and packaged goods distributors
Strategic Goals
- Develop a formal product brand under the OTOP 4-5 star certification standard
- Upgrade processing site with improved drying, storage, and labeling capacity
- Seek partnerships with local universities or NGOs for packaging design and food lab testing
Mae La Inburi Orrawan Fish Processing Promotion Community Enterprise is a testament to the power of grassroots food production. Through traditional knowledge, community collaboration, and government support, it continues to uplift rural livelihoods and preserve culinary heritage in Thailand's northern region.